Thursday, May 20, 2010

The experience factor at a World Cup

So I'm looking at the list of 23 and I was thinking about a few things concerning this team. When looking at the list I saw that out of the list of 23 players, 8 of them have World Cup experience. All three of our goalkeepers have never been to a World Cup, three defenders have World Cup experience, three midfielders and two strikers. Six out of those eight players were at the 2006 World Cup while the other two were at the 2002 World Cup and one of those two was at the 1998 World Cup.

Nicolas BURDISSO - 2006
Walter SAMUEL - 2002
Gabriel HEINZE - 2006
Javier MASCHERANO - 2006
Juan Sebastian VERON - 1998, 2002
Maxi RODRIGUEZ - 2006
Carlos TEVEZ - 2006
Lionel MESSI - 2006

Obviously the person with the most World Cup matches and experience under his belt in this squad is VERON. Someone who I think Diego wants to bring for experience and leadership.

They say in a tournament you need some veterans and experience (as well as other things) to go deep and I agree with that. Whether it being experience gained by playing at one World Cup or experience at club level going deep and winning club tournaments. For me, experience matters. Players like MASCHERANO, VERON, MESSI, SAMUEL and the others have crucial World Cup experience which might be able to help the team. Now whether they use that experience to their advantage is a different question. You always hear the expression "Oh, well they were a young team", there's a reason why they say that.

In 2006, Italy's squad had an average age of 28. The youngest player being Daniele DE ROSSI (22 years old) and the oldest being back-up goalkeeper Angelo PERUZZO (36 years old). Out of those 23, 9 had World Cup experience in the past.

Gianluigi BUFFON: 1998 and 2002 World Cup.
Fabio CANNAVARO: 1998 and 2002 World Cup.
Alessandro DEL PIERO: 1998 and 2002 World Cup.
Gennaro GATTUSO: 2002 World Cup.
Francesco TOTTI: 2002 World Cup.
Alessandro NETA: 1998 and 2002 World Cup.
Filippo INZAGHI: 1998 and 2002 World Cup.
Gianluca ZAMBROTTA: 2002 World Cup.
Marco MATERAZZI: 2002 World Cup.

So yes 9 out of those 23 had World Cup experience, but 5 out of those 9 had played in two previous World Cup's. Including the World Cup, Olympics and the Euro's, Italy had 18 players who had played in a total of 47 international tournaments. One of their veterans, Alessandro NESTA had played at Euro 1996, 2000 and 2004. The 1996 Olympics and the 1998 and 2002 World Cup. That's a total of 6 international tournaments. Needless to say, there was some leadership on that team.

On our end,

Sergio ROMERO: 2008 Olympics
Nicolas BURDISSO: 2004 Olympics, 2006 World Cup, 2007 Copa America.
Martin DEMICHELIS: 2005 Confederations Cup.
Gabriel HEINZE: 2004 Copa America, 2004 Olympics, 2005 Confederations Cup, 2006 World Cup, 2007 Copa America.
Clemente RODRIGUEZ: 2004 Copa America, 2004 Olympics
Walter SAMUEL: 1999 Copa America, 2002 World Cup, 2005 Confederations Cup
Angel DI MARIA: 2008 Olympics
Javier MASCHERANO: 2004 Copa America, 2004 Olympics, 2006 World Cup, 2007 Copa America, 2008 Olympics
Maxi RODRIGUEZ: 2005 Confederations Cup, 2006 World Cup
Juan Sebastian VERON: 1998 World Cup, 2002 World Cup, 2007 Copa America
Sergio AGUERO: 2008 Olympics
Lionel MESSI: 2006 World Cup, 2007 Copa America, 2008 Olympics
Diego MILITO: 2007 Copa America
Martin PALERMO: 1999 Copa America
Carlos TEVEZ: 2004 Copa America, 2004 Olympics, 2005 Confederations Cup, 2006 World Cup, 2007 Copa America

That's a total of 15 players with 37 international tournaments combined. The average age of the squad is 26. The youngest player being Javier PASTORE at 20 years of age and the oldest being Martin PALERMO at 36 years of age.

Goalkeepers:
Sergio ROMERO: 23 years old.
Mariano ANDUJAR: 26 years old.
Diego POZO: 32 years old.

Defenders:
Nicolas BURDISSO: 29 years old.
Clemente RODRIGUEZ: 28 years old.
Martin DEMICHELIS: 29 years old.
Ariel GARCE: 30 years old.
Gabriel HEINZE: 29 years old.
Nicolas OTAMENDI: 22 years old.
Walter SAMUEL: 32 years old.

Midfielders:
Jonas GUTIERREZ: 27 years old.
Javier MASCHERANO: 25 years old.
Juan Sebastian VERON: 35 years old.
Angel DI MARIA: 22 years old.
Mario BOLATTI: 25 years old.
Maxi RODRIGUEZ: 29 years old.
Javier PASTORE: 20 years old.

Strikers:
Lionel MESSI: 22 years old.
Gonzalo HIGUAIN: 22 years old.
Carlos TEVEZ: 26 years old.
Diego MILITO: 30 years old.
Sergio AGUERO: 21 years old.
Martin PALERMO: 36 years old.

Using Italy once again as an example, at Euro 2008, everyone touted them as an old team who was dead. Yet as "bad", as "boring" and as "dead" as that team was, they were the only team in the entire tournament to take the winners (Spain) to the limits and lost on penalty kicks. Just some food for thought...

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/05/20/1933726/video-diego-maradona-runs-over-cameraman-and-then-curses-the-man-

johnny said...

Can't coach. Can't drive. Can't smoke. Can't drink. Can't do blow. Can't eat too much. Can grow a beard.

GK said...

It is great to have a stats guy here on Mundo. Great job Roy, very interesting read!

Am I wrong or wasn't Demichelis on the 2006 squad but never saw any minutes? Just curious....

Roy said...

GK, thanks. To answer your question, Demichelis did not make the team in 2006. He played in the qualifiers if I'm not mistaken but did not make the team at all.

Anonymous said...

I think no need to worry about age factor.we should be convinced only about the "bloody_x_factor(luck)"if our players are well played...

Anonymous said...

Friendly (Under 21)
May 20
FT Argentina 3 - 3 France

Alex Camacho said...

One positive I see for us on the horizon is our future WC squads into 2014 and 2018 will have such a strong core to depend on. Unfortunately it's mostly in the midfield and front line, but still:

Goalkeepers:
Sergio ROMERO: 23-31 years old.

Defenders:
Nicolas OTAMENDI: 22-30 years old.

Midfielders:
Javier MASCHERANO: 25-35 years old.
Angel DI MARIA: 22-30 years old.
Mario BOLATTI: 25-33 years old.
Javier PASTORE: 20-28 years old.

Strikers:
Lionel MESSI: 22-30 years old.
Gonzalo HIGUAIN: 22-30 years old.
Carlos TEVEZ: 26-34 years old.
Sergio AGUERO: 21-29 years old.

Add in players like Ustari (23-31), Banega (21-29), Garay (23-31), Insua (21-29), Gago (24-32), Perotti (21-29), Lavezzi (25-33), Zarate (if he fixes his attitude) (23-31), and we have much to look forward to into Brazil 2014 and beyond. That is, unless a crazy manager were to be given the reins of the team....

Anonymous said...

Argentina: 19' Mori
30' Farina
89' Mori

rey said...

have argentina started their training yet--???????????

england have already gone to austria and are training..????

Anonymous said...

VERY GOOD POINT BUT THERES ANOTHER FACTOR

ALL ARGENTINA TOP PLAYERS ARE RASED TO WIN TOUREMENTS ITS THE ARGY WAY LOOK HOW SERIOUS THE YOUTH LEVEL WORLD CUPS AND INTERNATIONAL CUPS ARE TAKEN AND THE OLYMPICS

IV STATED THIS HERE IN ENGLAND WEN ASKED SO WHY ARE YOU A ARGY FAN

I EXPLAIN HOW I PULLED MY FIRST EVER FOOTY STICKER OUT OF THE PACKET LOOKING FOR THE GUM INSIDE AND IT WAS KEMPES MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER I WAS 6 YEARS OLD 1978 ANYWAY AFTER THAT SPELL WAS CAST OVER ME I STARTED TO LEARN ABOUT FOOTBALL EVEN THO IV NEVER PLAYED IT AND I SOON REALIST ARGENTINA WERE THE BEST AND AT AGE 6 I PICKED THEM AS THE TEAM I LOVED SO IT WAS NICE TO GROW UP EDUCATING MYSELF ABOUT FOOTBALL AND ARGENTINA I THEN EXPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT GRASS ROOTS FOOTBALL AND HOW ARGENTINAS COPA AMERICA TEAMS OLYIMPIC TEAMS AND YOUTH TEAMS ALWAYS HAVE 70% 80% BALL POSSESSION AND HOW THERE FOOTBALL IS SUPERIOR AND 4-3-1-2 3-5-2 ETC THEY ALWAYS REPLY IV NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT THAT WAY BUT YOUR RIGHT THERE KIDS ARE RASED AS FUTURE WORLD CUP WINNERS I.E THERE RASED NOT AS LEAGUE PLAYERS BUT TURNEMENT WINNERS THERE RASED FROM YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO WIN A CUP AND HOW TO WIN GAMES ON THE BOUNCE TO GET TO A FINAL

SAVIOLA,AIMAR,ROMAN,COLLACCINI THE WHOLE LOT OF THEM WERE RASED THAT WAY AND AT A VERY YOUNG AGE LEARN THAT THE WORLD CUP IS THE PINICLE NOT THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EVEN THE WAY THE ARGENTINA LEAGUE IS SET UP IS MORE TOUREMENT LIKE THAN LEAGUE ITS SPLIT IN HALF INTO TWO SMALLER LEAGUES PER YEAR ETC ITS SO TOUREMENT BASED RATHER THAN LEAGUES

SO I AGREE WITH YOUR POINT BUT THERES ALSO THE FACT ARGENTINA TOP PLAYERS ARE RASED TO COPE THEY DONT REQIURE THE WORLD CUP EXPERIANCE LIKE MOST OTHER NATIONS AS BY THE TIME THEY REACH FULL LEVEL INTERNATIONAL THEY HAVE ALREADY WON THE U20 WORLD CUP AND OR THE OLIYIMPICS ETC

WHAT IM TRYI NG TO SAY IS THAT WAY OF THINKING IS IN THERE BLOOD THERE BORN AND RASED THAT WAY

SADLY IN ENGLAND EVERYTHING IS WRONG AND THE TRUE TALENTS GET TURNED AWAY ALSO IN THE UK ITS ALL BACK TO FRONT ITS ALL SET UP WRONG

TALENTED FOOTBALLER ARGENTINA ARGENTINA JUNIORS OPEN THERE DOORS COME ON IN LITTLE WIZZ KID COME HERE WE SHALL HELP YOU MAYBE ONE DAY YOU WILL BE A STAR


NOW ENGLAND GO AWAY LITTLE FOOTBALL WIZZ KID YOUR NOT WANTED HERE ONLY KIDS TALL FOR THERE AGE AND ATHLETIC ARE ALLOWED AND BIG BLACK KIDS AND MIX RACE KIDS TO LOOK P.C TO THE COMUNITY ARE ALLOWED YOUR MARADONA LIKE SKILLS ARE NOT WANTED HERE GO AWAY

AND FOR THE LIFE OF ME I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY ITS LIKE THAT ITS LIKE EVERYONE IN FOOTBALL IN ENGLAND IS A THICK BASTARD AND DOESNT EVEN UNDERSTAND CENTER OF GRAVITY OR BALL CONTROL

ITS A WEIRD SET UP IN DEED THATS WHY ITS OVER SEAS PLAYERS WHO MAKE UP THE PREM LEAGUE I JUST DONT GET IT AT ALL

OH AND ITS ANOTHER REASON I LOVE ARGENTINA THEY STAND FOR FOOTBALL

IF ENGLAND IS FOOTBALLS MOTHER THEN ARGENTINA IS CLEARLY ITS FATHER (OK I DELIBRATLY USED A ARGY SAYING THERE AS IF IT WAS MY OWN BUT I AGREE WITH IT)

Anonymous said...

ITS MY BIRTHDAY IM 38 AND ITS SQUAD DAY FOR ARGENTINA THE OMENS ARE JUST TOO MUCH TO BEAR NOW THERES LIKE 100S OF THEM AND NOW THERES A PERSONAL ONE THE HAIRS ARE STANDING UP ON MY NECK ITS ARE TIME

well theres you tubes alover other blogs of the squad training and just dribbling around warming up and maradona talking to them and theres a friendly in 3 days so take that as a yes there training its the 20th of course there training its squad day AND MY B-DAY LOL

tevez and messi were on the news report chatting away i think higuains place is up for grabs

ARGENTINA2010 said...

Where'd you hear that CAPS GUY? As much as I love Tevez id prefer Higuain to start with messi and/or all three of them. But if it's just two id want Higuain there as we need that big presence in the box. Maradona has clearly stated that Higuain will be starting too so I don't really think he'll beon the bench.

Anyways, interesting hearing all that from an englishman thats great that you appreciate Argentine soccer as much as we Argentinians do. I have come to good terms with the squad already and im ready to support and cheer our team in 21 days. VAMOS ARGENTINA HIJO DE SU PUTA MADRE!!

Anonymous said...

podcast anytime soon guys?

Argentina4life said...

TO Anonymous (english man)

hey glad to read ur opinion. i have always always hated england and ofcourse their fellow country men. i have always supported england's opposition in every game and in every kind of game like even when they play circket, i just hope they are beaten and beaten badly.seriously i never thought even in that country we can get some people like you. ya i will never change my views on england but ya today i came to know that even we can make frins in that country coz of people like u. once again glad to read ur comment specially "Argentina being the father of football"

Anonymous said...

i want ro join the club of the england haters. i hate this team so much, every single player. the worst of all is michael owen, i screamed of joy when this diver was injured in 2006. they are the biggest cheaters and hypocrites, their media spreads lies around the whole world. even germans are angels in comparison to england, and this says a lot.

Vitalij

Unknown said...

i think the most important game is the first group game against Nigeria. If Argentina can beat Nigeria then the rest of the group games will be easy. If not, I expect very hard-fought games against Korea & Greece, and Argentina may huff and puff only to advance from an easy group.

Unknown said...

Generally speaking I do not have very high expectation from this Argentina team, and expect a quarterfinal exit like four years ago. Anything more than that is a bonus.

Anonymous said...

Hua,

i also think that the first will be the most important of the group. Nigeria is the only team we should "fear". but to win is this game is not so important! much more important is not to lose it! a draw will be enough, and i hope for no injuries. Korea and greece are no match for us, if we play like against germany in march. greece is sooooo awful, did you see the euro 2008?

i expect at least the semifinal, and never give up the dream of winning the whole thing. of course we need a lot of luck, but after decades of bad luck it is time the sun shines for us!

Vitalij

Mohd said...

Abs-->

i am replying to your post on this thread...

so you say Zanetti sucked big time during the qualifications so you agree on leaving him out.
ok so what about almost every single other player? based on what you say Messi should also be left out. same for mascherano, dimaria, tevez and the list goes on. everyone was horrible in the qualifiers.

now was the time maradona gets his act together and select the players that can blend together as a team before the WC. but he did not and this is history now, but your statement was very unfair to zanetti.

Anonymous said...

CAN I JUST SAY WHOEVCER RUNS THIS BLOG IS A MAN WITH BIG BALLS IT IS RAN AS A BLOG A FORUM A PLACE OF PEOPLE SAYING WHAT THEY GOTA SAY

I SALUTE YOU FOR THAT

pashion albicelste is a personal diary the guy running that site is clearly a moron i think his posting in differant names pretending to be differant people THAT IS SAD he deleats every post thats posative and not against diego and the team he clearly has issues

oh its the same over at argentina world cup blog if you dont hate on everything argentina you get removed there so fucking dumb over there they want canavari the french based stiker (spelling) to be are 9 YES HOW DUMB IS THAT

chris said...

To the "Anonymous", guy who just posted the above comment about pasion albiceleste and other blogs,.. for you to sit there an be rude and say the guy is a moron and the blogs are crap, i think ur an idiot.. we all share the same pasion for Argentine Futbol. Clearly you have no clue what u are saying about his blog. Im on his blog every day, and appreciate all his news and updates he provides us on a daily basis.
John, from Mundo Albiceleste, I appreciate your updates too, and congratulate you on your blog. I sometimes come on here as well.

I apologize if I offended anyone on this blog today, but if ur an argentine fan, I would assume you would be passionate about our NT as well, just like everyone else.

Joe said...

I agree with you Chris. The anonymous above you is behaving like a child. This is a great blog. And the guys are doing a great job.

We are albiceleste fans. "Anonymous" please behave yourself. Share your opinions in a decent matter.

Anonymous said...

cheap hotels near disney world
country house hotel
hotel relais
hot deals on hotels
weddings hotel
hotels cheap deals